The World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) is this Saturday night and there are some late-breaking developments to share.

The big news is that locally-based craft beer icon Bridgeport Brewing has stepped up to be the sponsor and host of the official WNBR after-party.

I asked Bridgeport why they’d put their legendary and esteemed brand name next to a naked bike ride. Here’s what they said:

“Being that BridgePort is Portland’s oldest craft brewery – it only made sense to pair an iconic brand with an iconic event. Food carts, great live music, stellar beer and proceeds to benefit Shift — this is what Portland is all about.”

And here’s a flyer they’ll release tomorrow:

Gotta’ love it.

The Bridgeport party will be outdoors under the Hawthorne Bridge at SE 2nd and MLK Blvd from 11:30 pm – 2:30 am. There will be Bridgeport on tap (with some proceeds going to Shift to help pay for WNBR), music from DJ Gulls, and food from Koi Fusion, Golden State, and Whiffies.

Bridgeport says the City has granted them a street closure permit with the condition that folks wear bottoms. That’s right. To get into this party, you’ll need to put on your pants on. Shirtless is OK (and I assume that means for men and women).

If you’d rather keep all your clothes off and still party after the ride, there are four other “naked friendly” unofficial after-parties planned:

Mystery Ride (led by North Freak and Dropout bike clubs)
Meet at 11:30 pm north of Vera Katz statue on the Esplanade. Ride to an unofficial, free, all-ages outdoor rocking party, BYOB, “goes all night.”

But wait, there’s more.

If you want to get excited and inspired before the ride and help raise money for the awesome Sprockettes so they can go on tour in August, they’re hosting a pre-WNBR-party and benefit show at 6:00 pm on N. Failing Street between Vancouver and Williams.

WNBR organizers know their stuff. They’ve pulled this ride off for many years and suffice it to say that a ride with thousands of naked people has some unique challenges. With that in mind, they’re distributing a list of rules with some common sense reminders:

For more tips and information about the WNBR, check out this link. After missing the event last year, I’m really looking forward this.

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The event has only ‘grown up’ through the hard work and dedication of a core group of volunteers including Chris, Kate, Carl, Steph, Lily, Stephen, Meghan, Halley, Dutch, and others I’m sure I’m forgetting, who have worked with the city, county, Portland Police, fire marshalls, and private sponsors, getting permits, music, and space rental, planning the route, organizing volunteers, decorating, making art, setting up lights and fencing and rugs and infrastructure, planning for the garbage & recycling….

Hear ye, Hear ye… The Hop Czar is here to clear this up. The city says “you gotta wear bottoms” – I say – even a lil bit of bottoms is ok. Banana Hammocks? Go for it! A couple of well placed pasties? Fine by me! Come get your party on under the bridge people! Free admission and $3 beers – Czar approved.

Interesting distinction, and probably spot-on. Still, as someone who’s been riding (daily commuting as well as racing) bikes in Portland since the 90s, I’ll admit to being annoyed by the freakshow aspect that some associate with bike culture here. Like you said, maybe bikes are just the vehicle, rather than the focus. Frankly, I think bikeportland doesn’t get a lot of that and has contributed to the misconception, but whatever. That’s a longer conversation.

A big pffft to Bridgeport sponsoring the afterparty. They are now owned by Gambrinus Company, and have been for 10+ years. Gambrinus is a San Antonio-based company that thinks it’s a good idea to do things like gut the original Bridgeport brewery and pizza house and turn it into a soulless tourist trap high end bakery / fine dining establishment (with lousy food and service). Sponsoring the WNBR afterparty isn’t nearly enough for them to get on my good side; they could invite me over to the brewery for all the beer I can drink every day this summer and I still wouldn’t forgive them for what they’ve done to Bridgeport.

Besides…a pioneering Oregon microbrewery is now owned out of San Antonio, TX?!? To misquote that old Pace commercial, “San Antonio! Get a rope!”

Man – what a night on Saturday! In the meanwhile – we need your help recovering four dance lights swiped from the DJ area.

They are Astera AL-7 spots and they belong to one of our wonderful vendors that worked so hard to throw such an awesome party. These lights are useless without their proprietary recharging system and remote programming system so there should be no reason to hang on to them.

If you or someone you know might have one of them, PLEASE get it returned as soon as possible, absolutely no questions asked. Return the fixtures to the offices of R-West at 1430 SE 3rd Ave., on the 3rd floor.